Conservatory Questions Answered (2026 UK FAQ)

A lean-to conservatory costs £5,000 to £12,000. Victorian or Edwardian styles cost £11,000 to £25,000. A P-shaped conservatory costs £15,000 to £35,000. An orangery costs £25,000 to £60,000+. Use our calculator at conservatorycost.com to get an estimate based on your exact size, style, and material.Full guide

A 3m x 3m conservatory in uPVC with a glass roof costs approximately £8,000 to £14,000. Victorian or Edwardian at 3x3: £12,000 to £15,000. Hardwood at 3x3: £22,000 to £28,000. London and the South East add approximately 25% to these figures.Full guide

A 4m x 3m conservatory in uPVC with a glass roof typically costs £11,000 to £18,000. Victorian at this size: £14,000 to £20,000. Aluminium: £18,000 to £28,000. This is the most popular UK conservatory size.Full guide

Most conservatories fall under permitted development (PD) rights and do not require planning permission. PD applies when the conservatory is single storey, extends no more than 3 metres from an attached house (or 4 metres from a detached), is no higher than 4 metres, and covers less than 50% of the garden. Listed buildings, conservation areas, and properties with removed PD rights must apply.Full guide

Most conservatories are exempt from building regulations if they have a floor area under 30 square metres, are separated from the main house by an external-quality door, have independent heating controls, and use safety glazing. Orangeries require building regs approval because of their solid roof.Full guide

A conservatory has mostly glass walls and a glass or polycarbonate roof. An orangery has brick pillars forming 25-30% of the perimeter, a solid insulated flat roof, and a central glazed lantern. Orangeries are 2-3x the cost of conservatories, substantially warmer, and typically add more to property value.Full guide

A standard conservatory with a polycarbonate roof can drop to 6-10 degrees Celsius on a cold winter day without heating. A glass roof conservatory reaches 10-14 degrees. A tiled warm roof conservatory maintains 12-16 degrees. The main solutions are a tiled warm roof upgrade (£4,000-£15,000), underfloor heating, or triple glazing.Full guide

A lean-to conservatory is the cheapest, starting from around £5,000 for a small 2m x 2m uPVC unit with a polycarbonate roof. For a comfortable, usable space, budget £9,000-£12,000 for a 3m x 3m lean-to with a glass roof.Full guide

A well-built conservatory can add 5-10% to property value. Quality, year-round usability, and planning compliance are the key factors. A poorly built conservatory that is cold in winter can deter buyers. Orangeries typically add 8-15%.Full guide

A lean-to takes 3-5 days on site. Victorian and Edwardian styles take 5-10 days. A P-shaped or gable conservatory takes 1-2 weeks. An orangery takes 3-6 weeks. The full project from initial quote to completion typically runs 6-14 weeks, including manufacturing lead time.Full guide

A conservatory on a listed building always requires listed building consent in addition to planning permission, regardless of size or design. The consent process assesses whether the proposed structure affects the character and setting of the listed building. You will need to engage a heritage consultant and may need to use specified materials (lime mortar, hardwood frames, traditional glass profiles).Full guide

For year-round comfort, a tiled warm roof is the best option (U-value 0.15 W/m2K). For maximum light and good all-round performance, a glass roof with self-cleaning solar-control glazing is the best compromise. Polycarbonate is acceptable only on a budget with the understanding that it is cold in winter, noisy in rain, and will need replacing within 10-15 years.Full guide

uPVC is the most affordable (80% of UK market, 20-25 year lifespan, very low maintenance). Aluminium has slimmer sightlines, lasts 40+ years, and suits modern homes (35-50% more expensive than uPVC). Timber (hardwood) is the most expensive (2x uPVC cost), suits period properties, and requires repainting every 3-7 years.Full guide

At minimum: argon-filled double-glazed units with low-E coating and warm-edge spacer bars. For south-facing conservatories: solar-control glazing on the roof (reduces summer overheating). For maximum comfort: triple-glazing on side walls if you have a tiled warm roof. Self-cleaning glass is strongly recommended for the roof for maintenance convenience.Full guide

Polycarbonate is not bad, but it has significant limitations: poor thermal performance (U-value 2.8 W/m2K versus 1.2 for glass or 0.15 for a tiled roof), loud in rain, and tends to yellow and become brittle after 10-15 years. For a conservatory intended for year-round use, polycarbonate is not recommended. For a budget garden room used mainly in summer, it is acceptable.Full guide

Polycarbonate to glass: £3,000-£8,000 depending on size. Polycarbonate to tiled warm roof: £4,000-£15,000. These prices assume the existing frame is sound. A frame inspection (free to £300) should be carried out before ordering.Full guide

You can install a radiator on the main house circuit, but this removes the building regulations exemption. Once the conservatory has a radiator connected to the main heating system, it must comply with Part L thermal standards (which requires a tiled warm roof at minimum). Budget £5,000-£15,000 for the additional work required to bring the conservatory up to BR standards.Full guide

The most effective solutions are: (1) a tiled warm roof (which dramatically reduces heat loss, making the space comfortable without heating in most UK conditions), (2) a separate electric underfloor heating system (£800-£2,500, does not connect to main circuit), or (3) a standalone electric infrared heater (£300-£600, effective in small spaces but expensive to run if used continuously).Full guide

Underfloor heating (UFH) for conservatories comes in two types. Wet (water-circulating) UFH: £2,500-£5,000 installed, connects to a separate zone on the boiler or heat pump, cheapest to run. Electric (cable or mat) UFH: £800-£2,500 installed, can run on a separate circuit (maintaining BR exemption), higher running cost. Wet UFH is best for new builds; electric UFH is easier for retrofits.Full guide

Replacing an existing conservatory like-for-like (same footprint, same height) does not generally require planning permission. Expanding the footprint, increasing height, or changing materials in a conservation area will require planning permission. Always confirm with your local planning authority before demolishing the old structure.Full guide

A warm roof conservatory is a conservatory fitted with a tiled insulated roof system (such as Guardian Warm Roof, Ultraroof, or SupaLite) rather than the standard glass or polycarbonate roof. The tiled roof achieves a U-value of 0.15 W/m2K, dramatically reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. It typically includes an internal plasterboard ceiling and is finished like a room.Full guide

It depends on your budget, timeline, and intended use. A conservatory is significantly cheaper (50-70%), faster to build, and usually does not need planning permission or building regulations. An extension is fully insulated, can include plumbing, adds 10-20% to property value (versus 5-10% for a conservatory), but costs £30,000-£80,000+ and takes 6-12 months including planning.Full guide

An Edwardian conservatory has a rectangular floor plan and a hipped or gabled roof. It is the most practical and space-efficient conservatory style because the rectangular footprint uses 100% of the floor area, compared to about 85% for a Victorian bay. It is typically 5-10% cheaper than an equivalent Victorian conservatory.Full guide

A Victorian conservatory has a multi-faceted bay front (typically 3 or 5 angled panels) and a steeply pitched roof, often with ornate ridge crestings and finials. It is the most decorative and traditional style, suited to period UK homes. It costs approximately 5-10% more than an Edwardian of the same size due to the more complex bay geometry.Full guide

A P-shaped conservatory combines a main Victorian or Edwardian section with a lean-to wing extending from one side. The result is a larger structure with two distinct zones (typically dining and lounge), a floor plan resembling the letter P, and a footprint of 15-30 square metres. Cost: £15,000-£35,000 in uPVC.Full guide

The cheapest insulation upgrade is cellular or pleated thermal blinds on the roof and side walls (£200-£2,000), which trap a layer of still air and reduce heat loss by 20-30%. The next step is replacing a polycarbonate roof with glass (£3,000-£8,000). The most effective (but most expensive) option is a full tiled warm roof replacement (£4,000-£15,000).Full guide

A standard concrete slab and dwarf brick wall base costs £1,500-£3,000 for most residential conservatories. An engineered concrete raft (needed for clay or unstable soils) costs £3,000-£6,000. Screw piles (for sites with restricted access or tree root protection requirements) cost £2,500-£5,000.Full guide

Parts of a conservatory build can be DIY. The base and groundworks can be self-built with the correct specification. Flat-pack uPVC kits are available for £3,000-£10,000 for self-assembly. However, glazing installation (safety glass weight and handling), electrics (Part P certification required), and weatherproofing connections to the house wall should all be done by professionals.Full guide

A quality uPVC conservatory has an expected lifespan of 20-25 years. Aluminium conservatories can last 40+ years. Polycarbonate roofs typically degrade noticeably after 10-15 years. Glass roofs last 20-30 years before individual unit failures become frequent. Hardwood conservatories can last 30-50 years with proper maintenance.Full guide

Look for membership of the GGF (Glass and Glazing Federation), DGCOS (Double Glazing and Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme), TrustMark (government-endorsed scheme), or FMB (Federation of Master Builders) for larger projects involving brickwork. Membership means the installer has been vetted for technical competence and is subject to a code of practice with consumer dispute resolution.Full guide